Timepiece having a motor spring and a barrel

ABSTRACT

A timepiece having a motor spring and a barrel. The barrel is open on both ends and includes a ring rotatably mounted on a bearing surface of an element of the timepiece casing. The frame of the timepiece movement includes an element to ensure closing of one side of the barrel.

United States Patent Erard Jul 1, 1975 TIMEPIECE HAVING A MOTOR SPRING AND A BARREL [56] References Cited [75] Inventor: Raoul-Henri Erard, La ED ST TES PATENTS Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland 391,885 10/1888 Emery 58/86 7 A Eb h S.A.,N h-il, l 3] Sslgnee euc d 8 Primary Examiner-George H. Mlllfl, Jr.

Attorney, Agenl, or Firm-Silverman & Cass, Ltd [22] Filed: May 8, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 467,882 AB TRACT A timepiece having a motor spring and a barrel. The barrel is open on both ends and includes a ring rotat- [30] Forelgn Apphc anon Pnomy Dam ably mounted on a bearing surface of an element of May l0, I973 Switzerland 6784/73 the timepiece casing. The frame of the timepiece movement includes an element to ensure closing of 58885352135252 one Side of the barrel n 581 Field of Search 58/86, 59 8 Claims, 5 i g igures UIEWMUU m5 3.892.068

FIG. 1

FIG. 2

FIG.3 FIGA F165 1 TIMEPIECE HAVING A MOTOR SPRING AND A BARREL The present invention relates to a timepiece having a motor spring and a barrel.

This timepiece is characterized by the fact that the said barrel is open on its both sides and is constituted by a ring rotatably mounted on a bearing surface of an element of the casing of the said timepiece constituting, moreover, an element of the frame of its movement, that ensures moreover the closing of one side of the said barrel.

The drawing shows, by way of example, one embodiment of the object of the invention and several modifcations.

FIG. I is a sectional view, passing through the centre of the movement and through the axis of the barrel, of a part of the movement of a wrist-watch.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, passing through the axis of the winding and setting stem, of a detail of this movement, and

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views of a detail of three modifications.

The watch represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a member I, made of plastic material, constituting an element of the casing carrying the glass, designated by 2, and which constitutes moreover an element of the frame of the movement replacing the conventional bridges. The motor spring, designated by 3, is located in a barrel constituted merely by a ring 4, open on its both sides, partially engaged in a circular recess 5 provided in the support I. This ring 4 is rotatably mounted in the recess 5 and is closed, on one side, by the bottom of this recess. The barrel shaft, designated by 6, is rotatably mounted on the one hand in an embossment la shown by the support I, at the centre of the recess 5, and on the other hand in a bridge 7 of the frame of the movement which plays the role of the base-plate. This shaft carries, forced thereon, a wheel 8 which closes the barrel 4 on its side opposite to this one by means of which it rests on the support 1. This wheel 8 serves at the same time as an axial abutting member limiting the possible plays, in height, of the barrel 4.

The wheel 8 constitutes the first element of the gearing of the movement conducing to the centre seconds shaft, designated by 9, for, hence, ending to the escape wheel which has not been represented in the drawing.

The winding of the watch is effected by means of a stem 10 (FIG. 2) carried by the support I, the axis of which is perpendicular to the plane of the movement, and which carries a crown ll permitting to operate it. This stem 10 carries a winding pinion l2 meshing with an outer teething 4a of the ring 4 which constitutes the barrel. The stem 10 carries moreover a pinion l3 able to mesh, according to the axial position of the stem, with an intermediate pinion 14 used for the setting of the watch. It is to be noted that, when the pinion 13 is meshing with the intermediate pinion 14, the stem 10 occupies an axial position in which a toothing 10a of this stem is disengaged from the winding pinion 12, so that this latter is not driven.

The modification of FIG. 3 distinguishes from the first embodiment by the fact that the ring, designated by 15, constituting the barrel, located in the recess 5 of the support 1 is maintained in place by an annular member 16 extending above the outer toothing, designated by 15a, of the ring 15, serving to the winding.

The modification of FIG. 4 distinguishes from the first embodiment by the fact that the outer toothing, designated by 17a, of the ring 17 constituting the barrel, and which is meshing with the winding pinion 12, extends itself substantially on the whole height of the ring and engages the wall of the recess 5 of the support At last, in the modification of FIG. 5, the barrel 17 is identical to this one of the modification of FIG. 4 but, instead of being engaged in a circular recess of the support, it is partially engaged in an annular recess 18 of the support, designated by 19, providing a central embossment 19a around which the ring I7 is rotatably mounted.

What I claim is:

l. A timepiece comprising, a casing with a bearing surface element, a movement and frame therefor, a motor spring and a barrel surrounding the spring, the barrel being open on both ends, the barrel including a ring rotatably mounted on the bearing surface such that the side of the barrel facing the bearing surface is closed thereby.

2. A timepiece as claimed in claim 1 including a winding train and pinion associated therewith, said barrel having an outer toothing for meshing engagement with said pinion.

3. A timepiece as claimed in claim I in which the movement includes a gearing with gearing elements, the barrel having a shaft, a wheel carried on said shaft, the wheel being the first element of the movement gearing.

4. A timepiece as claimed in claim I in which the bearing surface element includes an annular recess with a central upstanding embossment and the ring is partially mounted in the recess for rotatable movement around said recess.

5. A timepiece as claimed in claim 1 in which the bearing surface element is formed as a circular recess with a lateral wall and the ring is partially engaged and rotatably mounted in the recess.

6. A timepiece as claimed in claim 5 in which the movement includes a gearing with gearing elements, the barrel having a shaft, the timepiece including a second frame element, the barrel shaft being rotatably mounted between the bearing surface element and the second frame element, and a retaining wheel carried by the barrel shaft to prevent the ring from leaving the bearing surface element.

7. A timepiece as claimed in claim 5 including a winding train and pinion associated therewith, said barrel having an outer toothing for meshing engagement with said pinion, an annular member secured to the movement frame, said annular member surrounding the ring and forming an axial abutment for the outer toothing of the barrel.

8. A timepiece as claimed in claim 5 including a winding train and pinion associated therewith, said barrel having an outer toothing for meshing engagement with said pinion, said outer toothing extending substantially the entire height of the ring and being partially engaged in the circular recess and cooperating with the lateral wall of said recess. 

1. A timepiece comprising, a casing with a bearing surface element, a movement and frame therefor, a motor spring and a barrel surrounding the spring, the barrel being open on both ends, the barrel including a ring rotatably mounted on the bearing surface such that the side of the barrel facing the bearing surface is closed thereby.
 2. A timepiece as claimed in claim 1 including a winding train and pinion associated therewith, said barrel having an outer toothing for meshing engagement with said pinion.
 3. A timepiece as claimed in claim 1 in which the movement includes a gearing with gearing elements, the barrel having a shaft, a wheel carried on said shaft, the wheel being the first element of the movement gearing.
 4. A timepiece as claimed in claim 1 in which the bearing surface element includes an annular recess with a central upstanding embossment and the ring is partially mounted in the recess for rotatable movement around said recess.
 5. A timepiece as claimed in claim 1 in which the bearing surface element is formed as a circular recess with a lateral wall and the ring is partially engaged and rotatably mounted in the recess.
 6. A timepiece as claimed in claim 5 in which the movement includes a gearing with gearing elements, the barrel having a shaft, the timepiece including a second frame element, the barrel shaft being rotatably mounted between the bearing surface element and the second frame element, and a retaining wheel carried by the barrel shaft to prevent the ring from leaving the bearing surface element.
 7. A timepiece as claimed in claim 5 including a winding train and pinion associated therewith, said barrel having an outer toothing for meshing engagement with said pinion, an annular member secured to the movement frame, said annular member surrounding the ring and forming an axial abutment for the outer toothing of the barrel.
 8. A timepiece as claimed in claim 5 including a winding train and pinion associated therewith, said barrel having an outer toothing for meshing engagement with said pinion, said outer toothing extending substantially the entire height of the ring and being partially engaged in the circular recess and cooperating with the lateral wall of said recess. 